Multihead fully fashioned knitting machines



Dec. 31, 1968 B. A. MONK 3,418,829

MULTIHEAD FULLY FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 27. 1966 Sheet of7 JIJIH IHHHI .arjaiwkm i w/4452:1072) B. A. MONK 3,418,829

MULTIHEAD FULLY FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Sheet 2 of 7 Dec. 31, 1968Filed June 27, 1966 DEC. 31, 1968 MO K MUL'IIHEAD FULLY FASHIONEDKNITTING MACHINES Sheet Filed June 27, 1966 Dec. 31, 1968 B. A. MONKMULTIHEAD FULLY FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Sheet Filed June 27. 1966 BrMm #944 Aim/641W Dec. 31, 1968 B. A. MONK MULTIHEAD FULLY FASHIONEDKNITTING MACHINES Filed June 27. 1966 Sheet DCC. 31, 1968 A MO KMULTIHEAD FULLY FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1966 SheetDec. 31, 1968 a. A. MONK I 3,413,829 A MULTIHEAD FULLY FASHIONEDKNITTING MACHINES Filed June 27. 1966 Sheet 7 of -7 2 ii i 58L ii iscRwR4cK/-e R MAL VE Q1NOID s. L.H W/DEN 0 SOLEN L T 59' 35 RH. W/DEN R90 j SOLENOID figk 59' A I RHNARROW 291 j- SOLENOID 5E fla 1R76/5 LvHNARRow LH NARROW 2 SOLENOID 2:: UVE RH lvARRowz AEUTRAL' SOLENOID F/ G.6 Wm.-

ar fialdww, dd) a dump United States Patent M 3,418,829 MULTIHEAD FULLYFASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Brian Arthur Monk, Mansfield, England,assignor to S. A. Monk (Sutton in Ashfield) Limited, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingharnshire, England, a corporation of the United KingdomFiled June 27, 1966, Ser. No. 569,743 Claims priority, application GreatBritain, June 28, 1965, 27,269/ 65 7 Claims. (Cl. 66-70) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Multihead fully fashioned knitting machines have a singlecontrol division and a plurality of knitting divisions. Racking of thefashioning mechanisms is effected by racking mechanisms and associatedbluff plate mechanisms. The racking mechanisms and the bluff platemechanisms are operable through linkage systems which are mechanicallyinterconnected in such manner that they operate, during at least part oftheir operational movement, as one. A single power unit is provided toactuate both said racking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanisms.

This invention relates to multihead fully fashioned knitting machines ofsingle or twin bed construction having individually operated needles,and is concerned with knitting width control apparatus for suchmachines.

In parLicular, the invention is applied to such knitting machines and ofthe kind, hereinafter referred to as of the kind described, comprising aplurality of knitting divisions, each consisting of a single needle bed,or two co-operating needle beds, and L.H. and RH. fashioning mechanismsassociated with each needle bed, a control division, which includes aL.H. fashioning screw and a K11. fashioning screw in respect of the oreach series of needle beds, the fashioning screws each being providedwith a nut housing movable lengthwise thereof, said nut housings beingcoupled to the respective L.H. and RH. fashioning mechanisms of the oreach series of needle beds, a racking mechanism associated with each ofthe fashioning screws, and a bluff plate mechanism associated with eachracking mechanism. It will thus be appreciated that, in the case of atwin bed machine, the control division houses two pairs of oppositelyhanded fashioning screws, one pair controlling the lengthwise movementof the fashioning mechanisms of one series of needle beds and the olherpair controlling the lengthwise movement of the fashioning mechanism ofthe other series of needle beds. In the case of a single bed machine itwill be obvious that only one pair of fashioning screws are required.

According to the present invention, in a fully fashioned multiheadknitting machine of the kind described, the racking mechanisms and theirassociated bluff plate mechanisms are mechanically interconnected andare operated by actuating means which are common to both mechanisms.

Preferably, the actuating means comprise a fluid operated ram.

According to the invention furthermore, each racking mechanism comprisestwo rackwheels provided with oppositely directed teeth for engagement byco-acting racking pawls, and each bluff plate mechanism comprises abluff associated with each rackwheel, means being provided forcontrolling the position of one of the bluff plates so that the rackingmechanism is caused to move the nut housing of one fashioning screweither one needle width or two needles width, and for controlling theposition of the other bluff plate so that the pawl associated PatentedDec. 31, 1968 therewith remains inoperative during the rackingoperation.

According to a further feature of the invention the means forcontrolling the positions of the bluff plates comprise, in associationwith each bluff plate, solenoid actuated stop means which are operableselectively to achieve the desired result.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of part of a multihead knitting machineincorporating the invention which shows the L.H. fashioning screw andpart of the RH. fashioning screw of the control division and,schematically, one of the knitting divisions, it being understood thatfor clarity certain parts both of the control division and the knittingdivision have been omitted,

FIGURE 2 is a section, with certain parts omitted for clarity, on theline 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of the right hand part ofFIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a schematic elevation showing the index boxes associatedwith the L.H. and RH. fashioning screws in the control division,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one of the indexboxes shown in FIGURE 4, and,

FIGURE 6 is an electrical diagram.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a flat bed knitting machinecomprising a plurality of knitting divisions one of which is shown at 10and a control division 11, each knitting division 10 including front andrear needle beds, one of which is shown at 12, each of which needle bedshas operatively associated therewith L.H. and RH. fashioning mechanisms13 and L.H. and RH. knitting width control means 14.

The control division 11 is provided, in respect of each series of frontor rear needle beds 12, with a pair of coaxial oppositely handedfashioning screws, the L.H. screw 15 having mounted thereon forlengthwise movement thereof a nut housing 16 which is coupled, through acontrol rod 17 to the L.H. fashioning mechanism 13 of each knittingdivision 10 of the series and, via a control rod 18, to the L.H.knitting width control means 14 of each knitting division 10 of theseries. The R.H. fashioning screw 19 similarly has mounted thereon a nuthousing (not shown) which is coupled, through a control rod 20, to theRH. fashioning mechanism 13 and, via a control rod 21 to the RH.knitting width control means 14.

In this latter respect, it will be appreciated that, since the RH.fashioning screw 19 and its associated parts are a mirror image of thoseshown with respect to the fashioning screw 15 the drawing of FIGURE 1 isrestricted to showing only the L.H. fashioning screw 15 and itsassociated parts in full. Similarly, since the machine being describedhas front and rear needle beds, it will be under stood that thefashioning screws 15 and 19, and their associated parts, are repeated inexactly the same manner on the opposite side of the machine, the RH.fashioning screw on the opposite side being indicated at 19' in FIG- URE2.

Each fashioning screw 15 or 19 has fixedly mounted on an extension ofone end thereof a racking mechanism which comprises two rackwheels 23and 24 provided respectively with oppositely directed peripheral teeth,which are arranged to be engaged by oppositely acting racking pawls 25,26 which are biased into engagement with said teeth and are arrange tocause turning movement of the fashioning screw 15 or 19 and thuslengthwise movement of the nut housing 16 mounted thereon. Thus, it willbe understood that turning movement of rackwheel 23 effects racking inof the nut housing 16 to cause narrowing of the garment piece andturning movement of rackwheel 24 effects racking out of the nut housing16 to cause widening of the garment piece.

In order to control the action of the racking pawls 25 or 26 to causewidening or narrowing of the garment piece by say one or two needlewidths, each rackwheel and pawl has associated therewith a bluff plate28 having a cutout portion 29 the plate being movable to expose theteeth of the racking pawl to permit of the latter to turn the rackwheelby one tooth, or by two teeth, or to cause the pawl to remaininoperative. In this respect, it will be obvious that when operating therackwheel 24- to effect widening of the garment piece, the otherrackwheel 23 remains inoperative due to the fact that the bluff plate 28holds the racking pawl out of engagement with the teeth thereof.

Each of the pawls 25, 26 is mounted on one end of a stub axle 31 whichis supported in a bearing boss 32 arranged on an annular support 33, thelatter being mounted, for angular turning movement, relative to itscoacting rackwheel, on the extension 30. The other ends of the stubaxles 31 supporting the pawls 26 each have attached thereto a connectinglink 34 which links are hingedly secured to one arm 35 of a bellcranklever 36 which is keyed to a shaft 37 mounted in bearing brackets 38secured to the frame 39 of the machine. The other ends of the stub axles31 supporting the pawls 25, in a similar manner to that of the pawls 26,have attached thereto connecting links 40 which are hingedly secured tolink arms 41 also keyed to the shaft 37. A similar arrangement isprovided for the other needle bed of the machine and, as shown in FIGURE2, the relevant patrs in this case are indicated by the suffix a. Theother arms 42 and 42a of the bellcrank levers 36 and 36a areinterconnected by a connecting link 43 so that the two mechanisms can beoperated by a single power unit generally indicated at 44.

The power unit 44, as shown in FIGURE 2, comprises a double actinghydraulic ram 45 the cylinder of which is hingedly secured to the frame39 and the piston rod 46 of which is hingedly connected to one end of adouble-ended lever 47 pivotally attached to the frame 39. The other endof the lever 47 is connected via an actuating rod 48 to the arm 35a ofthe bellcrank lever 36a. Thus, it will be understood that all the pawls25, 26, 25a, 26a of both the LH. and RH. fashioning screws 15 and 19 ofboth needle beds 12 are operated by a single hydraulic ram.

The bluff plates 28 associated with each rackwheel 25, 26 are eachcoupled by means of a link rod 49 to one arm 50 of a three armed lever51 which is turnably mounted on the shaft 37 so that the bluff platescan be operated independently of the racking pawls and moved relativethereto. A second arm 52 of the lever 51 is connected, via a connectinglink 53, to a corresponding lever and link rod associated with eachbluff plate 28a arranged for co-operation with the rackwheels of theopposite needle bed.

The bluff plate linkages 49, 51 are biased, by a ten tion spring 54which extends between the lever 51 and a bracket 55 fixed to the frame39, in a direction where the bluff plates 28 are urged into a fullyretracted position and in a direction which is away from the fullyracked position of the racking pawls 25, 26.

In operation, in order to effect racking movement, the hydraulic ram 44is actuated to carry out a single stroke, i.e., it is moved from theextended position shown in FIGURE 2 to the retracted position, which iseffective to cause retraction of all the racking pawls 25, 26. Duringthis movement, selected blufi" plate linkages 49, 51 are also allowed tomove, under the action of their tension springs 54, in a directiontowards the fully retracted position of the bluff plates 28, the reasonfor this being that the bluff plate linkages 49, 51 are normallyprevented, when the racking pawl linkages 36 and 34 or 40 are in theirfully racked position, from moving since they are normally in mechanicalengagement with stop rods 56 arranged on the lever 36 of their coactingracking pawl linkages. The extent of movement of the bluff platelinkages 49, 51 is controlled by stops, hereinafter described, to givethe desired result. Thus. if it is desired to rack one needle width inone direction, the bluff plate 28 of one rackwheel of each fashioningscrew is stopped at a position where one tooth is exposed and the bluffplate 28 of the other rackwheel of each fashioning screw is stopped at aposition where the racking pawls are maintained out of engagement withthe teeth of their coacting rackwheels.

On the return stroke of the ram 44, i.e., the racking stroke where theram is extended, the said one rackwheel of each fashioning screw isturned taking with it the said other rackwheel which is turning in adirection which is against the normal action of movement effected by itscoacting racking pawl. Immediately prior to the end of the rackingstroke, the pawl of the said other rackwheel of each fashioning screwenters into engagement with its coacting teeth to provide a stop whichprevents any tendency on the part of the fashioning screw to overrun itsintended extent of movement.

The means for stopping the movement of the bluff plates in one of anumber of predetermined positions comprise, in respect of each bluffplate linkage 49, 51, stop levers 57, 58 which are pivotally mounted at5811 on the bracket 55 and which are actuated individually by means ofsolenoids 59, 60 the operation of which is controlled, for example, by apunched tape or other control means.

Thus, it will be appreciated that, in operation, the racking linkages 36and 34 or 40 are operatively connected to the bluff plate linkages 49,51 by virtue of their being biased into engagement and that rackingmovements in both directions are carried out by means of the single ram44. The advantage of the operative connection between the rackinglinkages and the bluff plate linkages is that it dispenses with the useof relatively large solenoids for actuating the bluff plates as distinctfrom the solenoids actuating the stop levers, the bluff plate solenoidstending to burn out due to over heating, and utilises only very lightsolenoids as a means for selecting the extent of movement of the bluffplates and not for actually moving them.

As can be seen from FIGURE 3, the stop levers 57, 58 are biased byspring means 60 into a position where they are arranged to engage a stoppin 61 mounted on their (so-operating lever 51 to limit the extent ofangular movement of the latter. The arrangement is such that each stoplever can be moved by its coacting solenoid into one of two positions.In the operative position the lever 57 shown in solid lines is such asto prevent any movement, which would result from movement of the rackinglever 36, of the lever 51 so that the coacting bluff plate would be heldin the position 0 and racking of that particular rackwheel would nottake place. In the inoperative position of the lever 57 shown in brokenlines, the latter is bypassed and control is taken up by the lever 58.In the operative position the lever 58 shown in solid lines is effectiveto stop the movement of the lever 51 at the position N1 where the bluffplate 28 is positioned to expose one tooth of its cooperating rackwheelso that the racking pawl is operable to effect racking by one needlewidth. In the inoperative position of the lever 58 shown in chain dotlines, the latter is bypassed and control is taken up by a third arm 62of the lever 51 which stops movement of the latter by entering intoengagement with the frame 39 in position N2. In this position it will beappreciated that the bluff plate is moved so that racking by two needlewidths is effected. It will therefore be understood that each bluffplate linkage 49, 51 is capable of taking up three different positionsaccording to whether it is desired to rack by one or two needle widthsor, where racking is to take place in the opposite direction, not torack at all. Thus, by suitable selection of the positions of the levers57, 58, racking in and racking out can be effected to suit requirements.

In addition to the normal racking operation described above, the presentinvention also includes in combination therewith means for resetting thenut housings on each fashioning screw on completion of a garment piece.These means include two switch boxes 63, 64 controlling respectively thefront LH. screw and the rear L.H. screw (not shown), and the front andrear R.H. screws 19, 19'. The switch boxes 63, 64 are set by theoperator to give any desired knitting width, which width is normally thestarting width of a garment piece and the boxes are then locked inposition on a supporting indicator bar 65 by means of a locking lever66.

The switch boxes each include two switches and a cam 67 which can beturned to break the circuit of both switches, or to complete the circuitof one or other of the switches. The box 63 has switches 8.91 and 8.92and box 64 has switches 8.93 and $.94, contact being made therewith bytwo pivoted arms 68, 69 which are biased into engagement with the cam 67by means of a spring 70. The spindle 71 on which the cam 67 is mountedis provided with a downwardly depending switch arm 72, the end of whichis bifurcated to engage a projection 73 provided on an indicator rod 74fixed to and movable with the nut housing 16 of its coacting fashioningscrew.

The purpose ofthe switch boxes 63, 64 is to determine the direction ofmovement which has to take place to reset the nut housings in theirstarting positions. Thus, at the start of a garment piece, the switchboxes 63, 64 and the nut housings are in the same relative positionswhere the switch arm 72 is in a vertical position and the circuit toboth switches is broken. During operation to knit a garment piece, thenut housing 16 will move relative to the switch boxes 63, 64 and, indoing so, will trip the switch arm 72 to complete the circuit to one ofthe switches. When, on completion of the garment piece, it is requiredto reset the positions of the nut housings, the actuated switch willcomplete a control circuit which will dictate the direction of movementto bring the nut housings back into alignment with the switch boxes. Itwill be understood that any relative movement between the switch boxesand the nut housings where the two pass each other, whether it be innormal operation of the machine, or movement effected by the operator,is such as to operate the switch boxes.

During resetting, the appropriate racking mechanism is operated to rackcontinuously until the positions of the nut housings correspond to thepositions of the switch boxes when the operation of the rackingmechanism will be stopped. In this respect, racking on one or bothscrews will continue until both nut housings are in their correctpositions. Thus, the extent of racking movement of both nut housingsneed not be symmetrical.

It will be understood that resetting means corporated in the machineusing the normal mechanism and without the addition of further nisms.

As mentioned above, the operation of the racking mechanisms may becontrolled by a punched tape. In the case of the resetting mechanismhowever, it is preferred to provide a separate control circuit, whichmay be actuated manually or by the tape, the operation being such that,on completion of a resetting operation, control of the machine returnsto the tape.

As regards the racking operation it Will be seen that, although thebluff plates are operated individually insofar as their extent ofmovement is controlled by their individual stop levers, the rackingpawls of all the rackwheels operate, under the action of the hydraulicram, collectively irrespective of whether a racking-in or a racking-outoperation is to be performed. Furthermore, where the shape of thegarment piece is such that the action of the racking mechanisms isrepetitive, the stop means associated with the relevant bluff platus canbe permanently are inracking mechaselected for a predetermined number ofcourses or they can be cancelled out and reset for each operation.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 6 which shows the electricalcircuit with reference to a machine capable of widening by one needlewidth (solenoids 59'), narrowing by one needle width (solenoids 59) ornarrowing by two needles width (solenoids 60), it will be understoodthat, in order to rack the fashioning screws, the screw racking ram 44is caused to retract and then allowed to be returned to its extendedposition. The direction of the rack and the distance racked isdetermined by the selection made from a control unit, which may be apunched tape and which controls the operation of the whole machine.Thus, the appropriate rack direction solenoids 59, 59 or 60 areenergised from the control unit via relays R34 and R85. Relay R93 isimpulsed by R86 (which is a signal from the control unit) and heldenergised by switch 5.96 and hold on contact R.93/ 1. The screw rackingvalve solenoid 75 (see also FIGURE 2) is energised via R.93/2 whichcauses the racking ram 44 to retract. When the racking ram 44 is fullyretracted, switch 8.96 (which is located on the actuating rod 48) isoperated and relay R93 is de-energised allowing the racking ram toreturn to its extended position. Racking of the fashioning screws iseffected on completion of this sequence.

In order, on completion of a garment piece, quickly to return the nuthousings to their indexed position in the appropriate direction, theracking mechanism is continually racked. To effect this, the appropriatedirection solenoid 59, 59' or 60 also need to be energised, thedirection being determined by switches S.91(a), S.92(a), S.93(a) andS.94(a) in the indexing boxes 63, 64 which are biased by the directionwhich the screws have been previously racked. Thus, relay R.76 isenergised either by an impulse signal from the control unit R.75 or by amanually operated push button $.90. R.76 is held energised by R.76/1 andany one or more of the switches S.91(b), S.92(b), S.93(b) and S.94(b).The other pole of these switches S.91(a), S.92(a), S3301) and S.94(a) isused to give the direction of the screw racking. When relay R.76 isenergised R.76/2, R.76/3, R.76/4 and R.76/5 enable the switches in theindexing boxes 63, 64 to become effective.

Energising relay R.76 also closes the contacts R.76/ 6 which allowsrelay R33 to become energised and in turn energises the screw rackingvalve solenoid 75 via contacts R.93/2, the racking ram 44 beingretracted. When the racking ram has left its extended position switch 8.82 opens but the screw racking valve solenoid 75 remains energised dueto switch 8.96 and contact R.93/ 1. When the screw racking ram hasreached its fully retracted position switch $.96 opens whichde-energises relay R93 and therefore the screw racking valve solenoid75, which allows the screw racking ram 44 to return to its extendedposition, but contrary to the case described above, as soon as itreaches its extended position switch $.82 closes and re-energises relayR93 and the screw racking ram 44 is again retracted. In this way thescrew racking ram 44 is self oscillating until both the indexing boxes63, 64 have returned to their neutral positions.

When both the indexing boxes 63, 64 have returned to their neutralpositions relay R.76 is de-energised and the screw direction solenoidcircuits 59, 59' or 60 are changed over to the control unit.

By using hydraulic power to operate the fashioning screws, it will beobvious that the invention provides the advantage that these can beoperated independently of the rest of the machine and can for example beoperated when the machine is stationary.

Furthermore, by connecting the racking means and the blutf platesmechanically, it makes it impossible for the front screws and the rearscrews to be out of phase with one another.

With further reference to the operation of the stop levers 57, 58 itwill be appreciated that, in order to enable the bluff plate lever 51 tomove into position N2, it is necessary to move both stop levers 57, 58into an inoperative position where they are bypassed by the lever 51.This can of course be effected by arranging the electrical circuit sothat both solenoids 59, 60 are operated simultaneously but it ispreferred to provide a mechanical connection between the levers 57 and58 to cover this eventuality. Thus, each lever 58 is provided, at aposition between the pivot 59 and a point corresponding to the righthand end of the lever 57, with a hook-shaped member arranged to hookover the lever 57. Thus, movement of the lever 58 into an inoperativeposition also causes similar movement of the lever 57 so that bothlevers do not engage the stop pin 61 on the lever 51.

Although the invention has been specifically described with reference toa twin bed machine, it will be obvious that, by dispensing with thelinkages on one side of the machine, and with the connecting links 43and 53, it can be applied to a single bed machine.

What I claim is:

1. A multihead fully fashioned knitting machine comprising a pluralityof knitting divisions each of said knitting divisions consisting of atleast one needle bed and L.H. and RH. fashioning mechanisms operativelyassociated with said needle 'bed, a control division which includes aL.H. fashioning screw and a R.H. fashioning screw operatively associatedwith said needle bed, a nut housing mounted for lengthwise movement oneach of said fashioning screws, said nut housings being coupledrespectively to said L.H. and said RH. fashioning mechanisms, a rackingmechanism associated with each of said fashioning screws, and a bluffplate mechanism associated with each of said racking mechanisms, whereinsaid racking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanisms are mechanicallyinterconnected during at least part of the operational movement of theracking mechanisms, and a single power unit is provided to actuate bothsaid racking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanisms.

2. A multihead fully fashioned knitting machine comprising a pluralityof knitting divisions each of said knitting divisions consisting of atleast one needle bed and L.H. and RH. fashioning mechanisms operativelyassociated with said needle bed, a control division which includes aL.H. fashioning screw and a R.H. fashioning screw operatively associatedwith said needle bed, a nut housing mounted for lengthwise movement oneach of said fashioning screws, said nut housings being coupledrespectively to said L.H. and said R.H. fashioning mechanisms, a rackingmechanism associated with each of said fashioning screws, and a bluffplate mechanism associated with each of said racking mechanisms, whereinspring means extend between a fixed part of the machine and said bluffplate mechanisms to bias said racking mechanisms and said bluff platemechanisms into engagement with one another so that they operate as oneduring at least a part of the operational movement of said rackingmechanisms, and a single power unit is provided to actuate both saidracking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanisms.

3. A multihead fully fashioned knitting machine comprising a pluralityof knitting divisions each of said knitting divisions consisting of atleast one needle bed and L.H. and R.H. fashioning mechanisms operativelyassociated with said needle bed, a control division which includes anL.H. fashioning screw and a R.H. fashioning screw operatively associatedwith said needle bed, a nut housing mounted for lengthwise movement oneach of said fashioning screws, said nut housings being coupledrespectively to said L.H and RH. fashioning mechanisms, a rackingmechanism associated with each of said fashioning screws, said rackingmechanisms each comprising two rackwheels having oppositely directedteeth, a racking pawl operatively associated with each of saidrackwheels, and means for moving said racking pawls relative to saidrackwheels, and a bluff plate mechanism associated with each of saidracking mechanisms, said bluff plate mechanisms each comprising a bluffplate operatively associated with each of said rackwheels and means formoving said bluff plates relative to said rackwheels, wherein saidracking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanisms are mechanicallyinterconnected during at least a part of the operational movement ofsaid racking mechanisms, and a single power unit is provided to actuateboth said racking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanisms.

4. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said racking pawlsof each of said mechanisms are controlled collectively and said bluffplates of each of said mechanisms are controlled individually, a linkagesystem connecting each of said racking pawls to said power unit, alinkage system operatively associated with each of said bluff plates,spring means for biasing said bluff plate linkage systems intoengagement with stop rods associated with said racking pawl linkagesystems, and stop arms for controlling the extent of movement of saidbluff plate linkage systems and thus also of said bluff plates.

5. A multihead fully fashioned knitting machine comprising a pluralityof knitting divisions each of said knitting divisions consisting a frontneedle bed and a rear needle bed and L.H. and RH. fashioning mechainsmoperatively associated with each of said needle beds, a control divisionwhich includes an L.H. fashioning screw and a RH. fashioning screwoperatively associated with each of said needle beds, a nut housingmounted for lengthwise movement on each of said fashioning screws, saidnut housings being coupled respectively to said L.H. and said RH.fashioning mechanisms, a racking mechanism associated with each of saidfashioning screws, said racking mechanisms each comprising tworackwheels having oppositely directed teeth, a racking pawl operativelyassociated with each of said rack wheels, and a linkage systemoperatively associated with each of said racking pawls, and a bluffplate mechanism associated with each of said racking mechanisms, saidbluff plate mechanisms each comprising a bluff plate operativelyassociated with each of said rackwheels and a linkage system operativelyassociated with each of said bluff plates, spring means biasing saidbluff plate linkage systems into engagement with said racking pawllinkage systems so that both of said linkage systems operate as oneduring at least a part of their operative movement, connecting linksextending respectively between said racking pawl linkage systems andsaid bluff plate linkage systems associated with said front needle bedsand said racking pawl linkage systems and said bluff plate linkagesystems of said rear needle beds, and a single power unit coupled tosaid racking pawl linkage system to actuate both said racking pawls andsaid bluff plates.

6. A multihead fully fashioned knitting machine comprising a pluralityof knitting divisions each of said knitting divisions consisting of theleast one needle bed and L.H. and RH. fashioning mechanisms operativelyassociated with said needle bed, a control division which includes anL.H. fashioning screw and a R.H. fashioning screw operatively associatedwith said needle bed, a nut housing mounted for lengthwise movement oneach of said fashioning screws, said nut housings being coupledrespectively to said L.H. and said RH. fashioning mechanisms, a rackingmechanism associated with each of said fashioning screws, a bluff platemechanism associated with each of said racking mechanisms, spring meansinterconnecting said racking mechanisms and said bluff plate mechanismsduring at least a part of the operational movement thereof, a singlepower unit to actuate both said racking mechanisms and said bluff platemechanisms, and adjustably mounted switch boxes operatively associatedwith each of said nut housings of each of said fashioning screws, saidswitch boxes being arranged to control, during a resetting operation,the direction of rack- 2,489,658 11/ 1949 Miller 6689 ing. 2,507,533 5/1950 Straussberger 6689 7. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 6,wherein 3,292,395 12/1966 Bentley et a1 66-89 XR each of said switchboxes comprises a pair of contact 2,920,466 1/ 1960 Phillips et al 6689switches, spring biased pivotally mounted contact arms 5 for actuatingsaid contact switches, a rockable cam plate FOREIGN PATENTS forelfecting movement of said contact arms, and a b 738,053 7 193 Francefurcated switch arm fixed to said cam plate, said switch 958,074 5/ 1964Great Britain arm being arranged so that it is rocked by a projectionatta d to s associated Hut housing- 10 W. CARTER REYNOLDS, PrimaryExaminer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,140 2/1938 Richter et al66-89 US. Cl. X.R.

